Bruises??

Decorating By Fishercakes Updated 28 Sep 2005 , 4:37pm by Fishercakes

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Fishercakes Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 4:59pm
post #1 of 22

Just curious...

Do any of you get bruises on the palm of your hand from mixing frosting colors?

I had a terrible week last week. I ended up with about four bruises in the palm of my hand from mixing colors, but worse, I ended up with a pretty nasty bruise on my arm....believe it or not, from walking into the wall carrying a cake! icon_surprised.gif

I was so stunned that I did it, I misjudged the doorway while carrying a 1/2 sheet cake that I just crumbcoated. I made my board from a TV box from the furniture store since it was very sturdy. I ended up with a nasty bruise. The board, surprisingly did not even dent and the cake was fine too. I am hoping to post the picture of the finished cake very soon.

I was just wondering if it was just me, or if everyone goes through these kind of things?

Thanks,

Fishercakes
"Just call me the Cake Klutz"

21 replies
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thecakemaker Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 5:09pm
post #2 of 22

Wow - I have to say i've never gotten a bruise from mixing colors. From being stupid - yes - but never from mixing colors. How stiff is your icing?

Debbie

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luv2cake Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 5:14pm
post #3 of 22

I have never gotten bruises from anything cake related.

It almost sounds like it could be an iron deficiency or something medical. Maybe you should talk to your doctor.

I was anemic at one time and I would find all kinds of nasty bruises onmy body and not know how I got them. You'd think that I'd remember if I bumbed my arm hard enough to geta nasty bruise, but I couldn't.
Come to find out my iron levels were low and my little blood vessels would break a lot easier.

Just a thought.

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Fishercakes Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 5:20pm
post #4 of 22

Thecakemaker: I use the all crisco buttercream frosting and add corn syrup to thin. I think that the palm bruises are because my spoon may be a little too short. I am looking into longer spoon handles now! icon_lol.gif

Luv2cake: The last time my doc checked my levels she told me that they were way too high and to try to cut out as much iron as possible. Very hard to do with iron being in almost everything. But maybe somehow I managed to get them too low now. I think that I need to go see her again.

As far as the bruise on the arm, I knew that one was going to pop up!! I hit the corner of the doorway pretty hard but I was just amazed that the cake board did not bend or dent at all. icon_eek.gif

Well, I guess that it is just me!! icon_redface.gif

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debsuewoo Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 5:26pm
post #5 of 22

Fishercakes, perhaps you should think about using a spatula instead of a spoon. The wood or the plastic handles act as cushions and you don't have to grasp them so tightly.

Debbi

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cakesoncall Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 5:33pm
post #6 of 22

Fishercakes ~

I used to use regular soup style spoons to mix my colors into my icing also, and I always ended up with that bruised feeling in my palms. I never actually had a bruise, but I could tell that there was some damage under the skin--you know that feeling I'm talking about? I switched to long handled rubber scrapers when I started getting more orders (mainly so I could keep all my cake utensils separate from the regular kitchen stuff), and I noticed an immediate difference in how my hands felt after mixing a bunch of colors. Definitely give that a try! thumbs_up.gif

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Fishercakes Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 6:00pm
post #7 of 22

CakesonCall: I am glad that someone else has at least felt this before. I was beginning to think that I am just an accidnetly waiting to happen.

Debbi: thanks for the spatula suggestion!

I am looking into long spoons or wooden spoons. I had not thought about plastic spatulas. Are they strong enough for stirring in colors? Is there a better brand that you would suggest?

I have been using the soup and serving spoons from my kitchen.

Thanks!

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luv2cake Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 6:06pm
post #8 of 22

I just use the same off-set spatula to stir in colors that I use to ice the cake. Only one utensil for me!

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veejaytx Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 6:19pm
post #9 of 22

I use my regular tableware stainless steel knives, the handles are longer and thicker and there are always plenty of them so I can mix lots of colors and have a knife for each one if I want it. Janice

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MainCake Posted 26 Sep 2005 , 8:16pm
post #10 of 22

I used the Pampered Chef scrapers (white spatulas). The work great and they don't hold the colors. They may stain temporarily, but they fade. They are expensive, but so worth it. I have 3 of the Classic Scrapers, 1 Skinny Scraper and 1 Mini Mix-N-Scraper. My favorite is the Classic Scraper.

If I only have a small amount of icing to color, I sometimes use a regular spoon, but I much prefer the scrapers. Hope your hands feel better.

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MrsMissey Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 12:12am
post #11 of 22

Brusing from mixing icing....nope!! Misjudging the width of a door opening...yep! Smacked right into a doorway with a wedding cake a few weeks back...kinda hurt by pride but nothing else! icon_redface.gif

I also use the Pampered Chef rubber spatulas...those skinny ones are great for mixing small amounts of icing colors and you just can't beat the large ones for mixing batches of icing!

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nanni Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 12:20am
post #12 of 22

I too bruise so very easily-getting my blood pressure results in a "cuff bruise"-iron levels are fine=it's just me. But as for mixing cake colors-I use the Pampered Chef small spatula-love it!!! I use a butter knife if doing just a little bit-I hate using spoons because you wind up with so much in the valley of the spoon-at least I do and have to scrape it off and start over again with the stirring. Try a couple things and see what works for you!

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thyterrell Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 12:40am
post #13 of 22

I don't get any bruises, but I do get a blister every time I mix colors on the inside of my middle finger. I've started wrapping it with a band-aid before I even start.

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tcturtleshell Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 4:58am
post #14 of 22

I don't bruise from stirring icing but let me tell you sometimes I can't even open my fingers because they hurt so bad from stirring so much! I use butter knives too because I have so many of them!

I hurt myself in the kitchen all the time! The last wedding cake/groom's cake I made I hurt my foot & my stomach! I leaned the cake board (1" thick plywood) up against the cabinet. Forgot about it. Later bumped into it & it fell over on my foot! Ouch! icon_cry.gificon_cry.gif It even cut me! That same day I turned too fast & ran right into the breakfast bar! The corner stabbed me in the stomach! 2 bruises from that order! I'm always beating myself up!! LOL!! I get so busy that I'm clutzy!! icon_surprised.gificon_rolleyes.gificon_redface.gificon_razz.gificon_eek.gificon_cry.gif

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stephanie214 Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 12:29pm
post #15 of 22

Plenty of bruises from bumping into things.

Sometimes, I feel like someone has beaten me all over my body...just started feeling this way.

I love using my butter knives, more control when mixing and plenty of them to use.

Are you taking blood thinners...such as aspirin?

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Fishercakes Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 4:32pm
post #16 of 22

No meds for me except occasional Motrin for times like this.

Well, here is the finished cake. This was the board that I ran into the corner of the doorway with. The picture is kind of dark and you can't see the grey detail on vader. Client is going to send me a picture of it from the party.

It was a huge hit. The little boy delighted! Mom too!!

Please let me know what you think!! I got the idea from this site...someone did this design using an edible image.
Thanks!
LL

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stephanie214 Posted 27 Sep 2005 , 4:36pm
post #17 of 22

Fishercakes,

Wow, now that's a cake...your colors are fantastic. thumbs_up.gif

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Fishercakes Posted 28 Sep 2005 , 1:36am
post #18 of 22

Thanks Stephanie!

I didn't mix up my colors the night before decorating so I know I ended up using too much coloring. The next morning when I went to deliver it, the colors were very bright and bold. I think that it made it stand out a little better and demand attention. icon_wink.gif

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alimonkey Posted 28 Sep 2005 , 2:21am
post #19 of 22

Your cake looks great! I love Vader standing in a pool of fire. Very dramatic.

If you really like your spoons, maybe you could try wrapping the handles of a few with cushioned handlebar tape for bicycles. That would certainly take the edge off.

I prefer spoons for mixing, too, but have never actually had a bruise, just a bruised feeling, and stiff fingers like TC. I think both knives and rubber spatulas require too much mixing. The rubber spatula just bends too much and knives don't have enough surface area! Maybe I'll try some handlebar tape & see how it goes. We've got tons of the stuff - DH used to be an avid biker, but I don't know if any of it is cushioned.

Ali

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Fishercakes Posted 28 Sep 2005 , 2:50pm
post #20 of 22

Thank you for the comments on the cake.

I actually thought that this cake was going to be the end of me, after all the bruising. icon_lol.gif

I do love using spoons to mix with, but I must admit that I really haven't tried anything else either. I never would have thought of the handlebar tape for bikes. Thanks for the idea!

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candyladyhelen Posted 28 Sep 2005 , 3:48pm
post #21 of 22

I have always used a hand mixer for mixing colors. I have a bad back & the less movement I do, the better. Mixing by hand would kill me!

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Fishercakes Posted 28 Sep 2005 , 4:37pm
post #22 of 22

I always thought that mixing with an electric mixer ending up taking more coloring in order to get the results that you want.

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